According to Spanish health official illness have reached 204 with at least three deaths. In Andalusia, in southern Spain has reported the bulk of the cases with 197, with most of the cases in this community reported from Seville (162).

Of the patients confirmed in Andalusia, 58 percent presented symptoms compatible with acute gastroenteritis, 47% presented with fever, 10% (19) developed meningeal forms and four patients had sepsis.

Three fatalities have been reported to date–two people over 70 and a person over 90 years old.

4 laboratory confirmed cases have been registered (1 in Aragón, 1 in Castilla y León, 1 in Extremadura and 1 pregnant woman of 8 weeks in Madrid who lost the baby) and 3 cases confirmed by epidemiological link (1 in Extremadura and 2 in Aragon).

A UK citizen identified in France is suspected to be associated with the same outbreak.

The implicated food source is roasted pork meat, commercialized under the brand ‘La Mechá’, produced by a company in Seville, Spain. The company has recalled all products manufactured since May 2019 and discontinued production.

An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

The CDC, several states, and federal partners (USDA/FSIS) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections. This investigation is ongoing and has not identified a specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain as the source of infections. However, The Public Health Agency of Canada is also investigating a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in several Canadian provinces linked to cooked diced chicken.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) shows that the type of Listeriamaking people sick in Canada is closely related genetically to the Listeriamaking people sick in the United States. WGS gives investigators detailed information about the bacteria causing illness. In this investigation, WGS showed that bacteria isolated from ill people were closely related genetically. This means that people in this outbreak are more likely to share a common source of infection.

As of August 23, 2019, a total of 24 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes has been reported from 13 states. Ill people range in age from 35 to 92 years, with a median age of 72. Sixty-three percent of ill people are female. Of 23 ill people with information available, 22 hospitalizations have been reported. Two deaths have been reported.

As of August 23 2019, there have been seven confirmed cases of Listeria monocytogenes illness in three provinces: British Columbia (1), Manitoba (1) and Ontario (5). Individuals became sick between November 2017 and June 2019. Six individuals have been hospitalized. Individuals who became ill are between 51 and 97 years of age. The majority of cases (86%) are female.

According to Health authorities in Canada, based on the investigation findings to date, Rosemount brand cooked diced chicken has been identified as a likely source of the outbreak. Rosemount cooked diced chicken was supplied to institutions (including cafeterias, hospitals and nursing homes) where many of the individuals who became sick resided, or visited, before becoming ill. That product has now been recalled.

In the United States, Tip Top Poultry, Inc., a Rockmart, Ga. establishment, has recalled approximately 135,810 pounds of fully cooked poultry products that may be adulterated withListeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.

The frozen, diced, and mechanically separated ready to eat chicken was produced on January 21, 2019 and display “PACK DATE 01/21/19” on the labels. The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-17453” inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the case. These items were shipped to hotels, restaurants, and institutions nationwide.

The problem was discovered on August 17, 2019, when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) notified FSIS that a sample of product produced by Tip Top Poultry, Inc. confirmed positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

The State Department of Agriculture has issued a consumer warning regarding raw milk in Otsego County.

The state says unpasteurized cow milk from the Muddy River Dairy in Otego has tested positive for a harmful Listeria monocytogene bacteria.

The state says Muddy River Dairy is prohibited from selling raw milk until new test samples come back clear.

There have not been any reported illnesses due to this contaminated milk. Potential symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeriosis can even cause miscarriages or stillbirth in pregnant women.

The state of New York is warning people to not consume unpasteurized raw milk from Churchtown Dairy due to possible contamination of Listeria Monocytogenes.

On Friday, the state Department of Agriculture & Markets notified the dairy farm that a presumptive positive detection for Listeria was made from a bottled milk sample pulled from the dairy’s cooler on July 22. Listeria Monocytogenes is a species of bacteria that can cause the infection Listeriosis.

No reported cases of the illness associated with the milk have been reported.

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets said that consumers who purchased raw milk from the Foundation for Ag Integrity Churchtown Dairy should immediately dispose of it and call 518-851-2042.

The dairy’s cheese and other products are still approved for sale by state Agriculture and Markets.

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets is reminding consumers that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization, a process that kills bacteria responsible for numerous illnesses and diseases.

Elevation Foods is working with distributors and retailers to quarantine and recover any impacted product remaining on store shelves.

The containers have the “use by” dates stated below printed on the side of each container and the lot number stated for each product on the side or the lid (see attached pictures). This recall applies only to the products with the lot numbers and “use by” dates stated below.

Archer Farms-brand Egg Salad packaged in a 12-ounce clear, square plastic container, Lot Number W1906042A, Use By 12AUG2019 (printed on the side of each container) UPC 085239018682, distributed nationwide

Freskët-brand Egg Salad packaged in a 32-ounce clear, square plastic container, Lot Number W1906042, Use By 12AUG2019A (printed on the side of each container

Freskët-brand Tuna Salad packaged in a 5-pound white, round plastic container, Lot Number W1906054, Use By 02AUG2019A (printed on the side of each container

Freskët-brand Thai Lobster Salad packaged in a 5-pound white, round plastic container, Lot Number W1906041, Use By 02AUG2019A (printed on the side of each container)

Elevation Foods identified the problem with the products after receiving positive test results for three containers of affected egg salad which were sampled and tested by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Elevation Foods is continuing to investigate potential sources of the problem.

Nature’s Touch Frozen Foods Inc. is voluntary recalling “Signature Select Avocado Chunks” with a best before date of Oct 11, 2020, after an inspection test revealed Listeria monocytogenes in the product.

The company initiated the recall “based on strict precautionary measures after the company was informed by the FDA that a routine sampling program found a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in one sample bag of the product,” according to the Nature’s Touch notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration.

As of June 18, there hadn’t been any confirmed illnesses reported in association with the recalled frozen avocado product, the notice states. There is concern that some consumers may have the recalled frozen avocado chunks in their homes because the best-before date isn’t until Oct. 11, 2020.

Consumers can use the following label information to determine whether they have the recalled avocado in their homes:

Signature Select brand avocado chunks, frozen

12-ounce plastic bags

UPC number 2113009412 on the back

Best-before date displayed as OCT 11 20 on the back of packages near the top

Nature’s Touch reports the avocado chunks were distributed in the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming, Texas and Utah.

UNFI is voluntarily recalling its 10 ounce packages of Woodstock frozen Organic Grilled Red Peppers because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes . Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product comes in a 10 ounce plastic package marked with UPC code 4256301714, lot #60B, and an expiration date of April 2020 stamped on the back of the package and was distributed nationally to retail stores.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the lot number identified above. The production of the product has been suspended while RIDOH and UNFI continue to investigate.

Cheese sold by Snow Farm Creamery at local markets has tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, according to a release from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Snow Farm Creamery Baby Swiss and Snow Farm Creamery Baby Swiss with Mustard Seed with a code “02 04 19” are all affected, but officials warn that if you do not know the code and purchased the cheese after April 24, you should not consume it.

The product is packaged in vacuum-sealed flexible plastic wrap of various sizes and was sold on and after April 25 at the Green Star Co-op on Buffalo Street in Ithaca; Brookton Market and the Brooktondale Farmers Market in Brooktondale; the Ithaca Farmers’ Market; and the Candor Daffodil Festival in Candor.

Samples of the cheese also were distributed at the Town of Caroline board meeting on June 12. Snow Farm Creamery is in Brooktondale.

A routine sample of the cheese taken by an inspector from the Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services on June 10 was tested by the New York State Food Laboratory and discovered to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

On June 13, the manufacturer was notified of a preliminary positive test result. Test results were confirmed as positive for Listeria monocytogenes on June 17.

The cheese will be destroyed by the manufacturer.

Listeria-contaminated products may cause listeriosis, a disease that usually causes mild flu-like symptoms in healthy individuals.

However, state officials warn that in immune-compromised individuals, meningitis and blood poisoning can occur. Pregnant women are also considered a high-risk group, as listeriosis can result in stillbirths.

Since the multi-agency investigation began into listeria cases linked to sandwiches and salads, Public Health England (PHE) has been analysing previously known cases of listeria from the past 2 months to see if they are linked to this outbreak. Whilst any risk to the public remains low, PHE’s Whole Genome Sequencing analysis has identified an additional 3 cases of listeria linked to this outbreak. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to nine. All of the cases of listeria infection were in hospital patients in England.

Sadly, one of the seriously ill 6 patients PHE confirmed last week has since died.

One of the patients confirmed today as linked to the outbreak had already died. This brings the number of deaths linked to this outbreak to 5.

The affected sandwiches and salads were withdrawn from hospitals when the links to the listeria infections were first identified and the multi-agency team then advised NHS organisations not to provide any Good Food Chain products to vulnerable patients. Evidence suggests that all individuals ate the affected products before the withdrawal took place in hospitals on the 25 May 2019. The food chain investigations continue.

Sandwiches and salads linked to the patients have been withdrawn and the supplier, The Good Food Chain, has voluntarily ceased production while the investigation continues. This business had been supplied with meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats which subsequently produced a positive test result for the outbreak strain of listeria. This business and North Country Quality Foods who they distribute through, have also voluntarily ceased production.

Dr Nick Phin, Public Health England, said:

To date, there have been no patients linked to this incident outside healthcare organisations, but we continue to investigate. Swift action was taken to protect patients and any risk to the public is low. PHE is continuing to analyse all recent and ongoing samples of listeria from hospital patients to understand whether their illness is linked to this outbreak.

PHE is working very closely with the Food Standards Agency, NHS England and Improvement, as well as partner organisations in Scotland and Wales, to investigate this outbreak.

Dr Colin Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer at the FSA said:

Our sympathies remain with the families of the patients who have tragically passed away. We have taken action along with local authorities to minimise the risk based on the evidence so far. The FSA will continue to investigate the cause of the outbreak to prevent a reoccurrence.

Whole Genome Sequencing is a laboratory tool used to investigate the DNA sequence of bacteria. Using this technology, we can identify matches between samples taken from patients with listeria and the food products under investigation to confirm whether patients are linked to the outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting the public to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination of l’Explorateur soft ripened cheese. This pasteurized, cow’s milk cheese was made by in St. Simeon, France and distributed throughout the U.S. The FDA advises consumers and retailers to not eat, sell, or serve cheese labeled as l’Explorateur.

L’Explorateur cheese has been packaged in clear plastic containers and is sold in the form of small, circular wheels in 250g quantities. The sell by dates on the package include May 7, 2019 and May 14, 2019. Product lot codes are 7742-H 057 and 77432-H 064. Cheese labeled as such should be thrown away immediately.

The Société Fromagère de la Brie firm is subject to an FDA Import Alert, allowing the agency to detain the food without physical examination until the firm demonstrates that its products no longer appear to be in violation of the FDA’s requirements.

Listeriosis is a rare but serious illness usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Anyone who experiences fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, or develops fever and chills after eating any of the products described above, should seek medical care.

Symptoms can appear from a few days up to a few weeks after consumption of the contaminated food. Listeriosis can be fatal, especially in certain high-risk groups. These groups include the elderly and people with weakened immune systems and certain chronic medical conditions (such as cancer). In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labor, and serious illness or death in newborn babies.

People who think they might have symptoms of listeriosis should consult their health care provider.

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About this blog

The Listeria blog supplements Marler Clark’s Web site About Listeria, a site that provides information about Listeria monocytogenes, the symptoms and risks of infection, testing and detection of Listeriosis, and how to prevent the spread of the Listeria bacterium.